Win over Ireland gives Scotland series advantage

 

A fortuitous 2-1 win over Ireland at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre today has put Scotland Senior Women 1-0 up in the three match international series.
Two goals inside four second half minutes were the contest’s decisive moments, Fiona Bruce cancelling out Megan Frazer’s early strike for Ireland, before Katie Robertson scored what proved to be the match-winner shortly after.
Commenting on his side’s display, Scotland Senior Women Head Coach Gordon Shepherd said, “It was a frustrating performance from us and it is fair to say the best team lost. But if you don’t take your chances at this level, it can come back to haunt you. We kept fighting to the end and our best spell came in the last twenty-five minutes.
“There have been a number of matches in the past that we have dominated and been on the losing end of, so we will take the win. However, the performance will need to be much better tomorrow.”
Ireland started the match in imposing fashion, securing a penalty corner chance in the ninth minute, which Shirley McCay passed up by striking one of her own players with her attempt on goal.
Early Irish dominance paid off four minutes later however, when Megan Frazer brilliantly secured opening goal by gliding past three Scottish defenders to hit the ball on the reverse stick into the bottom right hand corner.
When they reflect back on the first half, the Irish playing contingent can certainly consider that they had enough goal-scoring opportunities to put the match out of sight.
Frazer had a glorious chance right in front of goal in the 26th minute but carelessly dragged the ball wide of the left hand post, before Nicola Evans’ short-range effort sailed over the bar moments later.
Then an excellent sprawling goal-line clearance from defender Susan McGilveray denied Evans right on half-time, leaving Ireland with only a narrow 1-0 advantage going into the interval.
Further frustration for the away side followed two minutes into the second period when Deirdre Duke was presented with a clear sight on goal, but the Irish forward could only fire the ball straight at Scotland goalkeeper Nikki Cochrane.
A curious repeat of a first half penalty corner set-play happened only minutes later when McCay again struck her own player from an attempted shot from the top of the circle, relieving the pressure on the home defence.
In a cruel twist of fate, the visitors were left to rue these missed opportunities when Scotland found an equalising goal in the 45th minute. Nikki Kidd’s reverse stick cross from the left of circle presented Fiona Bruce with the easy task of tapping the ball home from a couple of yards to restore parity to proceedings.
Two minutes later, Emma McGregor flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal but alas there were no team-mates able to latch onto it.
A Scottish penalty corner set-play conjured up the winning goal in the 50th minute; Rebecca Condie’s effort re-bounded off an Irish defender’s stick to Katie Robertson, who cleverly looped the ball over Ireland goalkeeper Pamela Smithwicke into the right corner of the net.
Four penalty corner opportunities were awarded to the Scots late on, but both McGilveray and Kareena Marshall were thwarted by Smithwicke.
McCay had a chance to secure a deserved equaliser for Ireland two minutes from time, but her shot cruised wide of the post.
The two sides meet again in the final match of the series tomorrow at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, with an 11am push-back.

A fortuitous 2-1 win over Ireland at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre today has provided Scotland Senior Women with a 1-0 advantage in the three match international series.

Two goals inside four second half minutes were the contest’s decisive moments, Fiona Bruce cancelling out Megan Frazer’s early strike for Ireland, before Katie Robertson scored what proved to be the match-winner shortly after.

Commenting on his side’s display, Scotland Senior Women Head Coach Gordon Shepherd said, “It was a frustrating performance from us and it is fair to say the best team lost. But if you don’t take your chances at this level, it can come back to haunt you. We kept fighting to the end and our best spell came in the last twenty-five minutes.

“There have been a number of matches in the past that we have dominated and been on the losing end of, so we will take the win. However, the performance will need to be much better tomorrow.”

Sco_Ire_ 25

(Scotland gather possession inside Ireland half. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Ireland started the match in imposing fashion, securing a penalty corner chance in the ninth minute, which Shirley McCay passed up by striking one of her own players with the subsequent attempt on goal.

Early Irish dominance paid off four minutes later however, when Megan Frazer brilliantly secured opening goal by gliding past three Scottish defenders to hit the ball on the reverse stick into the bottom right hand corner.

When they reflect back on the remainder of the first half, the Irish playing contingent can certainly consider that they had enough goal-scoring opportunities to put the match out of sight.

Frazer had a glorious chance right in front of goal in the 26th minute but carelessly dragged the ball wide of the left hand post, before Nicola Evans’ short-range effort sailed over the bar moments later.

Then an excellent sprawling goal-line clearance from defender Susan McGilveray denied Evans right on half-time, leaving Ireland with only a narrow 1-0 advantage going into the interval.

Further frustration for the away side followed two minutes into the second period when Deirdre Duke was presented with a clear sight on goal, but the Irish forward could only fire the ball straight at Scotland goalkeeper Nikki Cochrane.

A curious repeat of a first half penalty corner set-play happened only minutes later when McCay again struck her own player from an attempted shot from the top of the circle, relieving the pressure on the home defence.

In a cruel twist of fate, the visitors were left to rue these missed opportunities when Scotland found an equalising goal in the 45th minute. Nikki Kidd’s reverse stick cross from the left of circle presented Fiona Bruce with the easy task of tapping the ball home from a couple of yards to restore parity to proceedings.

Sco_Ire_ 33

(Fiona Bruce puts Scotland back on level terms. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Two minutes later, Emma McGregor flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal but alas there were no team-mates able to latch onto it.

A Scottish penalty corner set-play conjured up the winning goal in the 50th minute; Rebecca Condie’s effort re-bounded off an Irish defender’s stick to Katie Robertson, who cleverly looped the ball over Ireland goalkeeper Pamela Smithwicke into the right corner of the net.

Sco_Ire_ 34

(Katie Robertson provides the winning goal for Scotland midway through the second half. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Four penalty corner opportunities were awarded to the Scots late on, but both McGilveray and Kareena Marshall were thwarted by Smithwicke.

McCay had a chance to secure a deserved equaliser for Ireland two minutes from time, but her shot cruised wide of the post.

The two sides meet again in the final match of the series tomorrow at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, with an 11am push-back.

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